A ray of light piercing through the crack of an open window cut through the dimly lit room, resting on Valen's face. The chill of the dawn air seeped in, mingling with dust motes swirling in the shaft of light, all converging on his closed eyes, waking him.
"Ugh... what happened?" Valen said as he slowly sat up, holding the back of his head.
He looked around only to see that he was on a bed situated on the side of a dark prison cell. Seeing this, Valen got to his feet immediately, trying to puzzle out what was going on and why he was in prison.
"Oh... I remember that majestic-looking dude back at my house," he said as he began to remember what transpired and led to his current predicament.
"Honestly, I don't think anyone would forget seeing a face like that or even feeling that intense aura around him," Valen said sarcastically.
"Is that so?" A voice cut through the quiet and dark cell.
Valen, shocked and startled, looked towards the passage at the front of the cell and saw the Aegis Primarch standing menacingly, his gaze locked with Valen's, a stern expression on his face.
"You again.. not going to knock me out again, huh?" Valen said as he gathered his composure. "And why am I in here?" he added.
"Apologies for earlier, I was a bit hard, but it was the fastest way to complete the mission given to me." He responded to Valen.
"Huh? mission? from who?" Valen asked.
"My name is Zereth Malcor, the aegis primarch of the kingdom of Maltheris." He said, ignoring all of Valen's questions.
"Hey.."
"The king sent me to fetch you, so you are coming with me," Zereth said as he ignored Valen again.
"This is not a request," Zereth added as he stared at Valen intimidatingly.
"Hah.." Valen sighed as he grabbed the back of his head. "I guess I can't do anything about this."
'My skill stopped responding the moment I laid eyes on him, no.. it stopped the moment he arrived. Does he have some resistance, or is he that much stronger than me? Either way, it's best that I comply for now so I can get more information on what's happening.
Valen thought to himself as he walked towards the front of the cell.
Zereth opened the cell and let Valen out.
"Follow me," Zereth said as he locked the cell behind Valen and began to walk.
'He isn't worried that I might run?.. well, the difference in strength is so vast he probably doesn't think I can run away even if I wanted to,' Valen thought to himself as he followed Zereth.
As they walked, Valen began scanning the walls, the floor, the ceiling. He began to look for anything that could give him even the slightest thread of information. They climbed a staircase that led to a fine, well-furnished hallway. A long red carpet lay on the floor, emblazoned with an intricate phoenix crest, symbolizing renewal and perseverance in the face of adversity, a central ideology of the kingdom of Maltheris. On the walls hung luxurious paintings and small statues, some depicting historical figures and others enigmatic creatures from myth, telling tales of courage and unity in the kingdom's storied past.
As they kept walking, a painting caught Valen's eye, making him come to a standstill.
Valen looked directly at the painting. It was a painting of the royal family. The king, the Queen, and the children of the royal family.
But a single person in the painting caught Valen's eye; it wasn't the king nor the queen of the kingdom, but one of the children of the royal family, a prince. Something about the prince felt eerily familiar to Valen, sparking a flicker of recognition and an unexplainable knot of emotion in his chest. It wasn't just the serene expression on the prince's face or the air of confidence that surrounded him; it was as if a distant, fleeting memory was trying to resurface, elusive yet tantalizingly close.
"Wait, isn't that.." Valen said, staring at the painting.
"Hey.. what is it you think you're doing?" Zereth said, looking back to see Valen standing in front of the painting of the royal family.
"Oh shi-" Valen snapped out of his staring contest with the painting and immediately rushed to where Zereth was standing.
"Sorry about that, I just thought I recognized someone," Valen said with a playful smirk.
"Hmm.. I see," Zereth said as he stroked his chin.
'Huh?.. why is he thinking so hard about that?' Valen thought to himself.
"Don't wander too much and follow me as I ordered," Zereth said, letting go of his hand from his chin, and resumed walking.
Valen follows behind him, "...Yeah."
They soon reached a door; Zereth turned to face it. "Your highness, I have brought the prisoner as you requested," he said. The hinges creaked softly as Zereth slowly opened the door with his two hands, allowing the faint smell of parchment and candle wax to drift into the corridor. Beyond, a stone chamber washed in muted light was revealed, with more portraits hanging on the walls. At its far end stood a finely furnished table facing the entrance, with the prince seated behind it.
Both Zereth and Valen entered. Upon getting closer, Valen froze, standing and staring directly at the prince. Valen stared at the prince; only one word crossed Valen's mind.
"....James?" Valen said while still staring directly at the prince in pure shock and confusion.
In a sudden flash of memory, Valen is transported back to a recent past, one of his many regressions.
"Man, this game sucks," James said as he swung a gaming console up and down." These N.P.C.s are just useless... they don't help me beat the boss at all, and they don't even cause enough damage to even reduce the boss's life span," he added.
"Hey, aren't you going to say something?" James said as he looked at Alex walking beside him
Alex didn't respond; it was as if he were in deep thought.
Seeing this, James pushed Alex's shoulder to the side to draw his attention. "Hey!!.. I'm talking to you."
Alex stumbled as he tried to maintain his balance. "Hey, don't push me," Alex said as he caught his balance and turned to look back at James.
"Hey, don't get mad.. I was talking, and you weren't listening to my rant about this gam," James said as he wrapped his arm around Alex's shoulder.
"Hah.." Alex sighed. I really don't get why you keep playing this game; you complain about it more than you even play the game itself," Alex said as he stood up straight.
"The game is really good, it's just the NPCs are so lame. Wish I could change N.P.C's the same way I could change my character ski," James said with a tired expression.
"Hey.."
"Huh?" Alex said as he turned to look at James.
"HEY SHOW SOME RESPECT IN FRONT OF THE PRINCE!!" A loud voice said, drawing Valen back from his flashback
"Huh?.." Valen said as he looked around, seeing Zereth staring daggers into his soul and the prince with a soft expression on his face.
"N-no, my apologies, your majesty, I was just lost in thought upon seeing your face..you.. kind of remind me of someone... I know," Valen said as he bowed his head and stammered.
'Dammit, I bowed my head and apologized without even realizing it,' Valen thought to himself.
Seeing this, the prince stood up from his desk and began to approach Valen, Zereth bowing his head as soon as the prince stood up.
He walked over to Valen and put his hands on his shoulder.
"It's okay, Valen, I am sure it was a surprise seeing your brother face-to-face for the first time," the prince said with a smile.
"Huh?.." Valen said aloud.
'Brother? What is he talking about?' Valen thought.
"Hm? Did I get it wrong?" the prince said as he looked at Valen. A look of confusion was on the prince's face.
"N-no, sir, you are right. I was just confused as to how I am related to someone as majestic as you, my lord," Valen said.
'Oh, just kill me now, am I gay now?.. off all the things I could have said, why did that come out first.' Valen thought to himself with his head bowed.
"You flatter me, Valen, but I regret to say.. I am straight and not into men," The prince responded.
"No, I never implied you were... sir, I am straight as well," Valen said as he looked up.
"Oh? Then that's good to know," the prince said while raising his hand to indicate that he wants to be left alone with Valen.
"But, sire." Zereth tried to protest.
"Come now, Zereth, you don't think I need a babysitter, do you?" the prince said as his mouth curved into a smile with no warmth.
"I will take my leave as you have commanded," Zereth said as he bowed and left the room.
After a short silence, the prince spoke again.
"Valen, what is my name?" he asked.
"Uh.. is your name James?... perhaps?" Valen said in an unsure tone, testing the waters.
"No. And you didn't come close to saying it." The prince responded bluntly.
"Ah.. forgive me, your majesty, but it seems like I am missing a portion of my memory," Valen said while smiling awkwardly
"That is great news then." The prince said as he began walking back to his desk.
"Yeah.. Huh? That... is great news?" Valen asked, confused as to why the prince had said that.
"Yes," the prince said as he took his seat. "If you had remembered my name, your head would have been rolling on the floor right about now.
Valen felt a chill run down his spine.
"What are y-" Just as he was about to ask that, he was interrupted by the prince.
"My name is Theric Von Maltheris, the prince of the kingdom of Maltheris, your brother, and the next king of Maltheris.